Harlow's Creek (Washington) facts for kids

Harlows Creek is a lovely stream located in Wahkiakum County, in the state of Washington, USA. This creek flows through a beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest. It's a great example of how places can get their names and sometimes even have them changed for important reasons.

What is Harlows Creek?

Harlows Creek is a natural waterway that starts high up on the slopes of a place called Elk Mountain. From there, it flows south until it reaches the mighty Columbia River. The creek joins the Columbia River just east of a historic community known as Brookfield. Harlows Creek also has a smaller stream that flows into it, called Fink Creek.

Why Did the Name Change?

For a long time, this stream had a different name: Jim Crow Creek. However, on May 10, 2017, its name was officially changed to Harlows Creek. This change was made by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names. They were working to remove names from geographic places across the country that were considered offensive or hurtful.

The new name, Harlows Creek, honors two people who lived in the area a long time ago. These were John Harlow (who lived from 1872 to 1953) and Mary Harlow (who lived from 1888 to 1963). They lived in this region during the 1870s, and now the creek is named after them.

The Old Name's Mystery

The exact reason for the original name, Jim Crow Creek, isn't completely clear. It's thought that it might have been named after a man named Jim Saules. He was a free Black man who lived and worked in the area during the 1800s. While some old writings suggested the name came from crows nesting nearby, this idea isn't taken seriously today because of how far away the location is from the sea. The important thing is that the name was changed to be more respectful and to celebrate local history in a positive way.